Fears of a Pi Gap Are, Well, Irrational; Job for Mathematicians

Published: July 18, 1990

To the Editor:

Paul Chernoff (letter, July 1) calls for a big-science project for mathematicians: sequencing the entire decimal expansion of pi.

Mathematicians do in fact have a megaproject, and that is to train the next generation of mathematical scientists, including biologists. Unfortunately for all of us, they have been at best marginally successful at stirring the imaginations of many of the most talented students and at effectively advocating before funding agencies the educational needs in mathematics.